Heather is fighting for freedom and to hold the powerful to account.
During her first two years in the SC House, she has helped pass legislation to create jobs in Columbia, to protect women who miscarry a pregnancy from being prosecuted, and to promote outdoor recreation.
Heather has also used her power to take on members of both parties by pushing for accountability in government.
Job Creation
Heather and a bipartisan group of lawmakers created South Carolina’s first international trade commission with the Republic of Ireland to open Irish markets to SC products and help deepen trade connections with this important American ally.
Accountability for the Comptroller General
Heather helped force an incompetent comptroller general from office after he lost track of $3.5 Billion. Heather’s budget amendment to reduce his salary to $1 passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support. Then he resigned.
Oversight for Richland One school district
Heather believes in public education—public schools gave her the opportunity to go to college, start a business, and serve in the SC House. But too many children in Richland One are being left behind, and the school district continues to struggle to recruit and retain teachers.
Heather stood with teachers, parents, and students last year over the school district’s poorly planned, mid-year teacher reassignments. She also asked the SC Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to examine Richland One’s spending on a $31 million facility. That probe revealed the school district violated procurement and permitting laws in pursuing the project.
Protecting Women
To protect SC women, Heather passed an amendment to prevent women who miscarry a pregnancy at home from being jailed. This is an important safeguard following the enactment of the Republican legislature’s disastrous six-week abortion ban.
Richland Mall Redevelopment
Demolition of the Richland Mall on Forest Drive is underway thanks to budget funding Heather helped secure to redevelop this important property into a long-overdue commercial hub for our district.
Blocking Power Bill Increases
Remember the Base Load Review Act of 2007? That legislation let SCE&G charge South Carolina families for a nuclear power plant project that collapsed, destroyed the company, and stuck families with the bill. This year, the House Speaker pushed a similar bill that would give another utility a blank check to build a gas plant in the Lowcountry. Heather supports strengthening SC’s energy portfolio, but not on the backs of South Carolina families, which is why she spoke out against the bill and helped kill it.
Women in Hunting & Fishing Awareness Day
Heather helped pass legislation that will help promote hunting and fishing to SC’s women and girls so every South Carolinian can enjoy our state’s beauty and abundant natural resources.
